Off the wire

BASEBALL Freeman, Braves agree

A person familiar with the talks said the Atlanta Braves have reached an agreement on an eight-year deal with first baseman Freddie Freeman that will be worth about $125 million. The person confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the Braves haven’t announced the deal, which is subject to a successful physical. Earlier Tuesday, outfielder Jason Heyward and the Braves agreed to a $13.3 million, two-year contract. Heyward and Freeman had filed for salary arbitration last month. Freeman, 24, was an All-Star last year, when he hit .319 with 23 home runs and 109 RBI.

Infielder-outfielder Jeff Baker has agreed to a $3.7 million, two-year contract with the Miami Marlins, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person confirmed an agreement to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the Marlins hadn’t announced a deal. Baker batted .279 with 11 home runs and 21 RBI in 74 games for Texas last season. The Marlins will be the sixth team for the nine-year veteran, who is a .267 career hitter. Baker has played first, second and third base, as well and left and right field.

GOLF

Woods loses skins game

Tiger Woods made 10 birdies at Delhi Golf Club but failed to win a skins game, according to a golf website. Golfingindian.com reported Tuesday that Woods and Hero Motors chairman Pawan Munjal lost the charity skins game to Shiv Kapur and Anirban Lahiri. Kapur played college golf at Purdue and once competed at the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone. Woods made his first visit to India as a guest of Munjal. India newspapers reported Woods received about $2 million for the appearance. The event was closed to the public. In a video posted on the website, Woods said Delhi Golf Club was the narrowest course he has ever played and that he was nervous on some of his tee shots.

TENNIS Nadal: No big problems

Medical scans have revealed no serious problems as Rafael Nadal continues his recovery from a back injury sustained at the Australian Open. A statement from the world’s top-ranked player said all checks “were satisfactory and showed positive evolution” regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the finalin Melbourne. Nadal is continuing to work out in the gym and his return to the tennis court, starting on Thursday, will decide “when he is ready to return to competition.” The Spaniard is scheduled to play in Buenos Aires next week.

MOTOR SPORTS

Sorenson to drive No. 36

Tommy Baldwin Racing has hired Reed Sorenson to drive the No. 36 Chevrolet this season. Sorenson will be paired with veteran crew chief Todd Parrott, who also was hired this week. The 27-year-old Sorenson has 189 Sprint Cup Series starts over nine years. He’s got five top-five finishes at NASCAR’s top level. His last full-time Cup season was in 2009 when he drove for Richard Petty Motorsports. Sorenson ran six Cup races last season for Leavine Family Racing. His best finish was 37th at Phoenix. Most of Sorenson’s success is in the Nationwide Series, where he has four victories.

FOOTBALL Gruden completes staff

New Washington Redskins Coach Jay Gruden has filled the final spots on his coaching staff. The Redskins announced Tuesday that Bradford Banta has been hired as the assistant special teams coach, Shane Day as assistant offensive line and offensive quality control coach, and Jake Peetz as offensive quality control coach. The Redskins also will retain Aubrey Pleasant, who will be a defensive quality control coach after working as an offensive assistant for the Redskins last season. Banta spent the past six seasons with the Detroit Lions. Day spent the past two seasons as the quarterbacks coach for the University of Connecticut. Peetz spent last year working with the University of Alabama football program.

SOCCER U.S. to host European clubs

Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Real Madrid and AC Milan will play preseason matches in the United States. Inter Milan, AS Roma and Olympiakos also will be part of what is billed as the Guinness International Champions Cup, to be played from July 26 to Aug. 4, with the final at Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens. Additional venues for the games include Arlington, Texas; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Denver; East Rutherford, N.J. and/or New York; Glendale, Ariz.; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; and Washington. Two additional cities are to be announced Feb. 20. Some players may not be with their clubs because of the World Cup, which ends July 13.

MOTOR SPORTS

NASCAR creates new penalty system

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - NASCAR unveiled a revamped penalty system Tuesday that for the first time will define specific offenses with pre-determined penalties.

The new “deterrence system” classifies six different levels of penalties, with fines and point deductions increasing as the infractions become more severe. The new system will be applied only to technical infractions; NASCAR will still handle behavioral offenses individually.

The structure also allows the sanctioning body to hit repeat offenders with a multiplier that could increase penalties by 50 percent. NASCAR’s previous penalty system did not tie pre-determined sanctions to specific offenses.

“Our goal is to be more effective, fair and transparent,” said Steve O’Donnell, senior vice president of racing operations. “It’s never our intent to penalize, but in order to keep the playing field fair for everyone, we recognize that strong rules need to be in place.”

NASCAR also has removed track promoters from its appeals panel in order to keep them from having to rule on a team while also needing that team’s members to help promote races.

Another change to the penalty system is in the appeals process: Penalized teams will be allowed to see NASCAR’s presentation during the first appeal. Previously, each side presented its case without the other side in the room.

Parties will now submit summaries of issues in advance of the hearing and it will be NASCAR’s burden to prove that a penalty violation occurred. During second and final appeals, the burden will shift to the team to prove the panel decision was incorrect.

The biggest changes are to the penalty system, which is now broken into six classes. Minor technical infractions in the P1 class could lead to lost track time and other relatively light punishments; violations affecting the internal workings and performance of the engine in P6, on the other hand, could lead to the loss of 150 points, a fine of at least $150,000 and suspensions.

Sports, Pages 20 on 02/05/2014

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